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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Kurtz, Gerrit; Lacher, Wolfram; Roll, Stephan |
| Abstract: | The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most aggressive external actors in African conflicts, from Ethiopia, Libya and Somalia to Sudan. The leadership in Abu Dhabi obstinately denies its support for belligerents, yet it has maintained it even during the US-Israeli war against Iran - despite the serious repercussions for the UAE. Its role impedes efforts at conflict resolution and exacerbates humanitarian crises and regional instability. It undermines Europe's interest in reliable trade routes, the prevention of forced displacement and regional integration. Germany and its European partners should accord much greater weight to the UAE's destabilising actions in their bilateral relations, criticise them more explicitly and consider sanctions. The context of the war with Iran, as well as tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offers an opening for a change in policy in Abu Dhabi. |
| Keywords: | United Arab Emirates (UAE), African conflicts, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, US-Israeli war against Iran, regional integration |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:swpcom:341371 |
| By: | Mohamed Knidiri (UCA - Université Cadi Ayyad = Cadi Ayyad University [Marrakech]); Sidi Mohamed Rigar (UCA - Université Cadi Ayyad = Cadi Ayyad University [Marrakech]) |
| Abstract: | This study explores the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in Morocco and highlights their role in enhancing financial transparency within public institutions. The shift from cash-based accounting to accrual-based accounting reflects Morocco's efforts to modernize public administration and improve the quality and transparency of financial information. The paper examines the theoretical benefits and the main challenges related to the implementation of IPSAS, with a particular focus on their contribution to financial transparency. Through an analysis of the Moroccan context, the study demonstrates how IPSAS adoption can strengthen transparency practices in public institutions. It also emphasizes that, despite the significant potential benefits of IPSAS, effective implementation depends on the active collaboration of public authorities and various stakeholders to address potential constraints and challenges. This theoretical analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of IPSAS in promoting financial transparency and provides useful insights for future public sector reforms in Morocco and similar environments. |
| Date: | 2024–11–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05622836 |
| By: | Abderrahim Haddad (ENSA - Ecole Nationale des Sciences Appliquées [Agadir]); Fadma El Mosaid (ENSA - Ecole Nationale des Sciences Appliquées [Agadir]) |
| Abstract: | Abstract In Morocco, despite the creation of a special fund dedicated to Zakat in 1980, it has never been implemented due to the absence of implementing regulations. In this context, this fund could be a potential lever for social financing, particularly in light of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the worsening drought. This article aims to examine the extent to which the institutionalization of Zakat in Morocco might constitute an additional source of financing and support for very small enterprises (VSEs), which are particularly vulnerable to difficulties in accessing financing. To accomplish this, it adopts a descriptive and analytical approach based on the analysis of secondary data from scientific literature, institutional reports, and available statistics. The analysis highlights both the significant theoretical potential of Zakat in Morocco, based on available estimates, and the persistent financing challenges faced by Moroccan very small enterprises. Furthermore, certain international experiences, notably those of Malaysia and Indonesia, are highlighted to illustrate the opportunities and limitations of institutionalized systems for the collection and redistribution of Zakat. Keywords: Islamic finance, Zakat fund, financing social, very small enterprises, Morocco JEL Classification: G00 – H20 Paper type: Theoretical Research |
| Abstract: | Résumé Au Maroc, malgré la création d'un fonds spécial dédié à la Zakat en 1980, celui-ci n'a jamais été mis en œuvre en raison de l'absence de textes d'application. Dans ce contexte, ce fonds pourrait constituer un levier potentiel de financement social, en particulier au regard des effets néfastes de la pandémie de COVID-19, de la guerre en Ukraine et de l'aggravation de la sécheresse. Cet article vise à examiner dans quelle mesure l'institutionnalisation de la Zakat au Maroc pourrait constituer un levier complémentaire de financement et de soutien en faveur des très petites entreprises (TPE), particulièrement exposées aux difficultés d'accès au financement. À cette fin, il adopte une démarche descriptive et analytique fondée sur l'exploitation de données secondaires issues de la littérature scientifique, de rapports institutionnels et de statistiques disponibles. L'analyse souligne, à la fois, le potentiel théorique conséquent de la Zakat au Maroc, fondé sur les estimations disponibles, et les défis persistants en matière de financement que rencontrent les TPE marocaines. De plus, certaines expériences internationales, notamment celles de la Malaisie et de l'Indonésie, sont mises en avant pour illustrer les opportunités et les limites des systèmes institutionnalisés de collecte et de redistribution de la Zakat. Mots clés : Finance islamique, Fonds Zakat, Financement social, TPE, Maroc JEL Classification : G00, H20 Type du papier : Recherche Théorique |
| Keywords: | Islamic finance, Zakat fund, financing social, very small enterprises, Morocco, Maroc, TPE, Financement social, Fonds Zakat, Finance islamique |
| Date: | 2026–04–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05597681 |
| By: | Lhoussaine Lmouden (LAREFMO, FSJES-Agadur, UIZ - Laboratoire de Recherche en Entreprenariat, Finance et Management des Organisations, Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques et sociales, Université Ibn Zohr-Agadir, Maroc); Abdelkader El Moutaoukil |
| Abstract: | Abstract This paper examines the structural determinants of the territorial competitiveness of the Souss-Massa region within the institutional framework of advanced regionalization in Morocco. To this end, we adopted a rigorous empirical approach based on the systematic exploitation of official secondary data (notably from the High Commission for Planning, the Regional Tourism Observatory, and reports from the Regional Council). The study constructs a Synthetic Index of Territorial Competitiveness (SITC). This index is built around four interdependent pillars: economic performance measured by regional GDP and sectoral productivity; human capital understood through education levels and the alignment between employment and skills; physical infrastructure including transport networks and digital equipment; and institutional governance assessed by the quality of public services and coordination among stakeholders. The quantitative results reveal a generally robust level of competitiveness, with a normalized score of 0.64 out of 1. This performance is primarily driven by a strong agro-industrial and tourism specialization, two historically structuring sectors for the regional economy. However, the multidimensional analysis highlights persistent intra-regional disparities, particularly between the Souss Valley and mountainous areas, as well as a critical deficit in qualified human capital, especially in the fields of engineering and territorial management. These factors hinder the structural transition toward a higher value-added territorial economy. Our research concludes on the imperative of strengthening territorial governance through a more agile and collaborative approach, involving local authorities, universities, and businesses, combined with strategic economic diversification toward bio-resources and digital services. This would improve the resilience of the regional development model in the face of contemporary climate, social, and economic challenges. Keywords: Territorial competitiveness; Souss-Massa; Synthetic index; Regional development; Morocco; Territorial governance. |
| Abstract: | Ce papier examine les déterminants structurels de la compétitivité territoriale de la région Souss-Massa dans le cadre institutionnel de la régionalisation avancée au Maroc. Nous avons adopté pour cela une approche empirique rigoureuse fondée sur l'exploitation systématique de données secondaires officielles (notamment du Haut-Commissariat au Plan, de l'Observatoire régional du tourisme et des rapports du Conseil régional), l'étude réalisée construit un Indice Synthétique de Compétitivité Territoriale (ISCT). Cet indice s'articule autour de quatre piliers interdépendants : la performance économique mesurée par le PIB régional et la productivité sectorielle, le capital humain appréhendé à travers les niveaux de formation et l'adéquation emploi-compétences, les infrastructures matérielles incluant les réseaux de transport et les équipements numériques, ainsi que la gouvernance institutionnelle évaluée par la qualité des services publics et la coordination entre acteurs. Ainsi, les résultats quantitatifs obtenus révèlent une compétitivité globalement robuste, avec un score normalisé de 0, 64 sur 1, performance principalement portée par une forte spécialisation agro-industrielle et touristique, deux secteurs historiquement structurants pour l'économie régionale. Toutefois, l'analyse multidimensionnelle réalisée met en évidence des disparités intra-régionales persistantes, notamment entre la vallée du Souss et les zones montagneuses, ainsi qu'un déficit critique en capital humain qualifié, particulièrement dans les métiers de l'ingénierie et du management territorial. Ces facteurs freinent la transition structurelle vers une économie territoriale à plus forte valeur ajoutée. Notre recherche conclut sur l'impératif d'un renforcement de la gouvernance territoriale par une approche plus agile et collaborative, associant collectivités, universités et entreprises, conjugué à une diversification économique stratégique en direction des bio-ressources et des services numériques, afin d'améliorer la résilience du modèle de développement régional face aux défis climatiques, sociaux et économiques contemporains. Mots clés : Compétitivité territoriale ; Souss-Massa ; Indice synthétique ; Développement régional ; Maroc ; Gouvernance territoriale. |
| Keywords: | Souss-Massa, Synthetic index, Regional development, Morocco, Territorial governance, African Scientific Journal, Territorial competitiveness, Territorial competitiveness Souss-Massa Synthetic index Regional development Morocco Territorial governance, Indice synthétique, Maroc, Gouvernance territoriale, Développement régional, Compétitivité territoriale |
| Date: | 2026–05–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05615714 |
| By: | Hinh T. Dinh |
| Abstract: | This paper is the third in a series of country and comparative studies that together comprise a research program on services as drivers of economic growth and structural transformation in the Global South. The paper analyzes the pattern of Tunisia's services-led economic growth from 2012- 2022 using a specialized three-category framework: knowledge services (KS), enabling services (ES), and local services (LS). Using data from the OECD Trade in Value Added (TiVA), Trade in Employment (TiM), and Input-Output databases, the study evaluates Tunisia’s structural transformation against regional peers Morocco and Egypt, as well as EU15 and US benchmarks. The analysis focuses on indicators of global value chain (GVC) integration, domestic production linkages, employment structure and external demand, and productivity to determine if Tunisian services are serving as engines of growth and export-led convergence. The analysis reveals a structural trajectory that is unique in the North African dataset: Tunisia entered the period with KS firms importing foreign specialized intermediates at rates matching or exceeding EU15 levels, providing an initial structural advantage over both Morocco and Egypt. Yet Tunisia systematically surrendered that advantage in the decade to 2022 as foreign input sourcing declined across every major KS sub-sector, while the EU15 benchmark rose. Upstream GVC participation, meanwhile, remained below EU15 levels in all but one KS sector, confirming that initial input openness never converted into deep structural embedding in global production networks. The result is a services economy that has drifted in an unfavorable direction in terms of composition: the KS GDP share has declined, while public administration has expanded, and forward GVC integration has weakened across most tradable sub-sectors. Reversing this trajectory requires macroeconomic stabilization as a precondition, combined with deliberate investment to scale professional and technical services—the one KS sub-sector that has demonstrated international resilience—and to deepen the ICT sector's GVC embedding, before its initial structural advantages erode further. |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:rpaeco:rp05_26 |
| By: | Kamal Chakir (Université Ibn Zohr = Ibn Zohr University [Agadir]) |
| Abstract: | This article explores the resilience of Moroccan territories facing economic and environmental shocks through a qualitative documentary analysis of adaptation and diversification strategies. In a global context marked by increasing volatility of economic markets and intensification of extreme climatic phenomena, understanding the mechanisms through which territories develop and maintain their resilience has become crucial. Morocco, as an emerging country located in a geographically and climatically vulnerable region, is particularly exposed to these shocks, whether of economic origin or environmental origin.Given the scarcity of disaggregated regional empirical data suitable for spatial econometric modeling, this study adopts a qualitative documentary approach to identify and analyze adaptation and diversification strategies implemented by institutional actors and researchers. This methodology proves particularly relevant as it allows for in-depth exploration of perceptions, strategies, and discourses of key actors through the analysis of official reports, national and regional strategic documents, as well as relevant scientific articles. This approach offers a wealth of contextual information and a nuanced understanding of resilience dynamics, enabling comprehension of how and why strategies are implemented, beyond simply measuring their impact.The documentary corpus includes reports from key Moroccan institutions such as the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as local resilience strategies for cities like Fez and Mohammedia, the National Climate Plan 2020-2030, and World Bank publications. The qualitative analysis was conducted through two complementary stages: lexicographic analysis and thematic analysis, utilizing functionalities inspired by QSR.NVivo and MAXQDA software to systematically extract and organize information.Results obtained through lexicographic and thematic analyses reveal several key themes structuring territorial resilience in Morocco. Environmental adaptation strategies focus on proactive water management through major hydraulic infrastructure development and usage optimization, integrated disaster risk prevention including risk mapping and early warning systems, and promotion of resilient agriculture based on agroecological principles. Economic diversification strategies emphasize developing high value-added sectors such as automotive and aeronautics, intensifying foreign direct investment attraction efforts, and strengthening institutional support for the domestic private sector.The analysis also highlights the critical role of governance and public policies through strategic planning, intersectoral coordination, and supportive macroeconomic policies that create an institutional environment conducive to resilience development. Additionally, social protection and human capital development, encompassing direct social assistance programs and investments in education and professional training, strengthen populations'intrinsic capacity to effectively face shocks while improving overall social and economic resilience of territories.The article presents a conceptual model synthesizing the complex interrelationships between exogenous shocks, deployed strategies, and facilitating factors. This model illustrates how territorial resilience represents not a definitively acquired static state, but rather an evolving and continuous process of collective learning, progressive adaptation, and structural transformation. The study emphasizes a multidimensional approach to resilience, underlining the importance of proactive public policies and intersectoral collaboration to strengthen Moroccan territories'capacity to absorb, recover, and transform in the face of disruptions. The findings converge with recent quantitative analyses demonstrating that governance quality and adaptive capacities constitute primary determinants of resilience, surpassing the importance of macroeconomic stability alone. |
| Abstract: | Dans un contexte de vulnérabilité accrue aux chocs économiques et environnementaux, cet article analyse la construction de la résilience territoriale au Maroc à travers les stratégies institutionnelles d'adaptation et de diversification. Face à la rareté des données empiriques régionales désagrégées, nous privilégions une approche qualitative documentaire combinant analyses lexicographique et thématique d'un corpus institutionnel (HCP, CESE, Plan Climat National, stratégies locales, publications internationales). Les résultats révèlent quatre axes stratégiques structurants : l'adaptation environnementale (gestion hydrique, prévention des risques, agriculture résiliente), la diversification économique (secteurs à haute valeur ajoutée, attraction d'IDE), la gouvernance territoriale (planification, coordination intersectorielle) et le développement socio-humain (protection sociale, capital humain). Un modèle conceptuel intégratif synthétise les interrelations entre chocs exogènes, stratégies déployées et facteurs facilitants. L'étude souligne l'importance d'une approche multidimensionnelle reconnaissant la résilience comme processus évolutif d'apprentissage collectif et de transformation structurelle, où gouvernance et capacités adaptatives surpassent la seule stabilité macroéconomique. |
| Keywords: | Territorial resilience, Morocco, economic shocks, environmental shocks, qualitative analysis, analyse qualitative, chocs environnementaux, chocs économiques, Maroc, Résilience territoriale |
| Date: | 2026–03–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05570840 |
| By: | Maryem Ezbiri; Lotfi Lotfi Benazzou (UIT - Université Ibn Tofaïl) |
| Abstract: | Résumé : Dans un environnement économique marqué par l'incertitude, la concurrence accrue et la transformation numérique, la question de la gestion des risques opérationnels devient cruciale pour la pérennité des entreprises marocaines. Les très petites, petites et moyennes entreprises (TPME), qui constituent le pilier de l'économie nationale, sont particulièrement vulnérables aux perturbations financières, technologiques et organisationnelles. Notre étude s'inscrit dans cette dynamique en cherchant à comprendre dans quelle mesure la gestion des risques opérationnels influence la performance financière des TPME marocaines. La problématique repose sur la nécessité d'évaluer l'efficacité des pratiques de gouvernance, de gestion de trésorerie, de maîtrise des processus, de capital humain et de cybersécurité, dans un contexte où la formalisation de la gestion du risque demeure encore limitée. Sur le plan méthodologique, la recherche adopte une approche quantitative, fondée sur un raisonnement hypothético-déductif et une perspective épistémologique positiviste. Les données ont été recueillies par un questionnaire structuré et analysées à l'aide de la modélisation par équations structurelles (PLS-SEM) à travers le logiciel SmartPLS. L'échantillon initial comprenait 147 entreprises contactées, dont 117 réponses valides ont été exploitées. Les résultats empiriques mettent en évidence une contribution notable des dimensions stratégique, financière, opérationnelle et technologique du risque dans l'explication de la performance, avec un pouvoir explicatif global satisfaisant du modèle. Ils révèlent également que la gouvernance et la gestion de trésorerie constituent les leviers les plus influents, tandis que la dimension humaine demeure faiblement intégrée dans les pratiques de gestion. L'étude conclut à la nécessité de renforcer la culture du risque, de structurer les processus internes et d'intégrer les technologies de gestion sécurisée pour consolider la performance et la résilience des TPME marocaines. Mots clés : Gestion des risques opérationnels, Performance financière, TPME marocaines Classification JEL : M10, G32, L25, C30. Type du papier : Recherche empirique Abstract : In an economic environment marked by uncertainty, increased competition, and digital transformation, the issue of operational risk management is becoming crucial for the sustainability of Moroccan businesses. Very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises (VSMEs), which form the backbone of the national economy, are particularly vulnerable to financial, technological, and organizational disruptions. Our study addresses this dynamic by seeking to understand the extent to which operational risk management influences the financial performance of Moroccan VSMEs. The research question hinges on the need to assess the effectiveness of governance practices, cash management, process control, human capital, and cybersecurity, in a context where the formalization of risk management remains limited. Methodologically, this study adopts a quantitative approach based on hypothetical-deductive reasoning and a positivist epistemological perspective. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) via the SmartPLS software. The initial sample comprised 147 contacted companies, of which 117 valid responses were analyzed. The empirical results highlight a significant contribution of the strategic, financial, operational, and technological dimensions of risk in explaining performance, with the model demonstrating satisfactory overall explanatory power. They also reveal that governance and cash management are the most influential levers, while the human dimension remains poorly integrated into management practices. The study concludes that there is a need to strengthen risk culture, structure internal processes, and integrate secure management technologies to consolidate the performance and resilience of Moroccan micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Keywords: Operational risk management, Financial performance, Moroccan SMEs JEL Classification: M10, G32, L25, C30. Paper Type: Empirical Research |
| Keywords: | L25, C30. Type du papier : Recherche empirique Operational risk management, Financial performance, Moroccan SMEs JEL Classification : M10, C30, G32, TPME marocaines Classification JEL : M10, Performance financière, Gestion des risques opérationnels, Gestion des risques opérationnels Performance financière TPME marocaines Classification JEL : M10 G32 L25 C30. Type du papier : Recherche empirique Operational risk management Financial performance Moroccan SMEs JEL Classification : M10 G32 L25 C30 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05575367 |
| By: | Khalid Banani Banani (CEDOC Droit & Economie CIRPEC / LEAM / Département d'économie et de gestion Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques et sociales, Souissi-Rabat); Mounir Tajoui (CEDOC Droit & Economie CIRPEC / LEAM / Département d'économie et de gestion Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques et sociales, Souissi-Rabat); Saïd Toufik (CEDOC Droit & Economie CIRPEC / LEAM / Département d'économie et de gestion Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques et sociales, Souissi-Rabat) |
| Keywords: | Productivité totale des facteurs, Innovation, Bien-être (IDH), Croissance économique, Chômage, VECM |
| Date: | 2026–05–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05613379 |
| By: | Aomar Ibourk; Tayeb Ghazi |
| Abstract: | La participation des femmes au marché du travail au Maroc demeure l'un des défis les plus structurels du développement économique et social du pays. Avec un taux d'activité féminin de seulement 19 % en 2023, contre 69 % pour les hommes (HCP, 2024), le Maroc présente l'un des écarts de genre les plus prononcés parmi les économies en développement (Banque mondiale, 2024). Ce Research Paper propose une analyse économétrique rigoureuse et multiniveaux des déterminants de cette participation, en mobilisant les données du Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat (RGPH) 2014. À travers l'estimation d'un modèle logit individuel et d'une modélisation multiniveaux en trois étapes, les résultats révèlent la primauté des facteurs individuels — éducation, statut matrimonial, âge, présence d'enfants — sur les caractéristiques contextuelles provinciales. L'éducation supérieure génère l'effet le plus transformatif, avec un odds ratio de 8, 29, tandis que le mariage et la maternité exercent des effets restrictifs significatifs. Les implications pour les politiques publiques soulignent la nécessité d'investissements prioritaires dans l'éducation féminine, le développement de services de garde d'enfants accessibles, la promotion de l'emploi formel rural et le renforcement du cadre juridique de protection. |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:rpaeco:rp07_26 |
| By: | Lyamani Anas (USMS - Université Sultan Moulay Slimane); Mohamed Atik (Université Sultan Moulay Slimane de Béni Mellal) |
| Abstract: | The reform of the Moroccan healthcare system, supported by the creation of Territorial Health Groups (THGs), aims to strengthen governance, develop human resources, improve healthcare service delivery, and advance digital transformation. The Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceïma region, as a pilot area, provides a privileged ground for observing the initial effects of this reform on human resources management. Based on a qualitative exploratory approach and semi-structured interviews with institutional stakeholders and healthcare professionals, this study examines ongoing organizational changes, HR innovations, and the challenges faced. The results reveal a drive for adaptation and innovation (digitalization, mobility, inter-institutional coordination), while also highlighting structural constraints (statutory rigidity, skill shortages, resistance to change). The article concludes by discussing the key success factors for agile and attractive local HRM to support the dynamics of the THGs. |
| Abstract: | La réforme du système de santé marocain, initiée par la mise en place des Groupements Sanitaires Territoriaux (GST), vise à renforcer la gouvernance, la valorisation des ressources humaines, l'offre de soins et la digitalisation. La région de Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, en tant que territoire pilote, constitue un terrain d'observation privilégié pour analyser les premiers impacts de cette réforme sur la gestion des ressources humaines. En mobilisant une approche qualitative exploratoire basée sur des entretiens semi-directifs auprès d'acteurs institutionnels et de professionnels de santé, cette étude examine les transformations organisationnelles à l'oeuvre, les innovations RH mobilisées et les défis rencontrés. Les résultats mettent en évidence une volonté d'adaptation et d'innovation (digitalisation, mobilité, coordination inter-établissements), tout en soulignant des contraintes structurelles (rigidités statutaires, déficit de compétences, résistance au changement). L'article conclut sur les conditions de réussite d'une GRH territorialisée, agile et attractive, considérée comme levier stratégique de la réforme sanitaire. |
| Keywords: | health reform, Territorial Health Groups, Human resources management, Groupements Sanitaires Territoriaux GST, Réforme de la santé, Gestion des ressources humaines GRH |
| Date: | 2026–05–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05608862 |
| By: | Demirci, Murat (Koc University); Foster, Andrew (Brown University); Kirdar, Murat (Koc University) |
| Abstract: | This study examines the impact of the world’s largest humanitarian unconditional cash transfer program targeting refugees—the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) program—on child nutrition and growth outcomes. Using the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, which includes a representative sample of Syrian refugees, and employing a regression discontinuity design, we assess the program’s effects on child growth—measured by height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ), including their extreme values—and on child-level nutrition, measured across five major food categories. We find that receiving cash transfers increases HAZ by 0.6 to 0.8 standard deviations. Additionally, the transfers reduce the incidence of both underweight and overweight status based on WAZ scores. WHZ scores and the incidence of overweight status based on WHZ also decline. Examining the program's impact on nutrition, we find a significant reduction in children’s energy-dense, nutrient-poor food consumption, consistent with the decrease in overweight incidence. Overall, the ESSN program improves food consumption patterns among refugees, leading to better child growth outcomes. |
| Keywords: | refugees, cash transfers, anthropometrics, nutrition, program evaluation, Turkey |
| JEL: | F22 I14 I15 I38 O15 Q18 |
| Date: | 2026–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18731 |
| By: | Hinh T. Dinh |
| Abstract: | This paper, the fourth in a research series on services-led growth in the Global South, examines Egypt’s potential for growth and economic transformation through the integration of services into Global Value Chains (GVCs). It employs a new taxonomy that classifies services into Knowledge Services (KS), Enabling Services (ES), and Local Services (LS) and applies OECD 2025 Trade in Value-Added (TiVA), Trade in Employment (TiM), and input-output databases to benchmark Egypt against Morocco, Tunisia, and the EU15. The analysis shows that while services account for roughly 55 percent of Egypt’s GDP, KS remain thin at about 6 percent of GDP and 3.5 percent of employment—well below EU15 benchmarks of 15–17 percent of GDP and 12–15 percent of employment—while ES reach 12–14 percent and LS 34–37 percent of GDP. The paper identifies a structural imbalance between a large, geography-driven ES sector and a fragmented KS base. Egypt’s ES are dominated by transport and logistics linked to the Suez Canal, which generate high domestic value-added in exports but function mainly as geographic rent rather than GVC-embedded logistics, with limited private supply-chain integration or knowledge spillovers. Within LS, wholesale and retail trade is the central node in the domestic distribution network, and accommodation and food services remain a major, foreign-demand-dependent employer whose fortunes closely follow the tourism cycle. The data confirm that structural change over 2012–2022 has been services-led rather than manufacturing-led, with agriculture losing employment shares while business services and LS absorb most new workers. The data also show that its services are present upstream in other countries' production networks at levels that match or exceed EU15 benchmarks, yet they source almost no specialized foreign inputs in return — a configuration of autarky with upstream reach that defines the ceiling on Egypt's current GVC trajectory. Within KS, the study documents two divergent development pathways that contrast with the “dual orientation” pattern observed in the EU15 and, increasingly, in Morocco. Professional, scientific, and technical services (M) follow a domestication pathway characterized by exceptionally high forward linkages to the local economy but a lack of international competitiveness. Administrative and support services (N), including Business Process Outsourcing, follow an export-enclave pathway, successfully reaching foreign final demand but remaining structurally disconnected from domestic industries. While Egypt possesses the essential "building blocks" for a knowledge economy—including a massive labor force and a large domestic market—it has not yet synchronized these disconnected pathways The central policy priority appears therefore not to build KS capability from scratch but to connect these domestication and enclave pathways while preventing Suez-driven ES expansion from crowding out investment in KS, through a coordinated “big-push” strategy that deepens N’s domestic embedding and raises the international orientation and productivity of M. |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:rpaeco:rp08_26 |
| By: | Mohamed, Ahmed Ezzeldin (Toulouse School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This article applies Esping-Andersen's welfare state typology to Egypt from 1995 to 2005. It examines state, market, and society relations during market-oriented reforms and analyzes seven welfare schemes and safety nets. It characterizes Egypt's welfare state as conservative/informal, with benefits tied to formal employment and families, religious institutions, and clientelistic networks filling gaps for the informal sector. |
| Date: | 2026–06–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:n8spd_v1 |
| By: | Fatima Ezzahra Azzaz (Laboratoire « Gouvernance des Organisations et des Territoires » ENCG – Tanger) |
| Abstract: | Les enjeux de l'appropriation des solutions digitales pour l'optimisation des services territoriaux dans les collectivités locales marocaines |
| Date: | 2025–12–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05557735 |
| By: | Omar Ait Ezzi (Université Ibn Zohr = Ibn Zohr University [Agadir]); Kamal Chakir (Université Ibn Zohr = Ibn Zohr University [Agadir]); Hassan Rehaimi (Université Ibn Zohr = Ibn Zohr University [Agadir]) |
| Abstract: | In a context where young Moroccan graduates face growing challenges in entering the labor market, access to public transportation emerges as a critical yet often overlooked factor. In Greater Agadir-including the municipalities of Aït Melloul, Inezgane, and Dcheira-El Jihadia-the unequal distribution of urban transport infrastructure raises questions about its actual influence on employability.This article addresses the following research question: To what extent does access to public transportation influence employment opportunities for young graduates in Greater Agadir? To investigate this, a mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining a quantitative survey of 126 young graduates with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted using statistical tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), logistic regression, and chi-square tests, with the help of SPSS software.Findings reveal that regularity, cost, and network coverage significantly affect job-seeking efforts. Young people living in poorly served areas have reduced chances of employment integration, which amplifies territorial inequalities.These insights highlight the need to incorporate mobility concerns into employment and urban planning policies, especially in rapidly growing urban areas such as Agadir. |
| Abstract: | Dans un contexte où les jeunes diplômés marocains rencontrent de plus en plus de difficultés d'insertion professionnelle, l'accès aux transports publics constitue un facteur souvent négligé mais déterminant. À Agadir et ses communes limitrophes (Aït Melloul, Inezgane, Dcheira-El Jihadia), l'inégale répartition des réseaux de transport urbain interroge sur son impact réel sur l'employabilité des jeunes. Partant de ce constat, cet article pose la question suivante : dans quelle mesure l'accès aux transports publics influence-t-il les opportunités d'emploi des jeunes diplômés dans les grandes communes du Grand Agadir ? Pour y répondre, une approche mixte a été adoptée, combinant une enquête quantitative menée auprès de 126 jeunes diplômés et des entretiens qualitatifs. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide d'outils statistiques (ACP, régression logistique, test du khi-deux) via le logiciel SPSS. Les résultats montrent que la régularité, le coût et la couverture du réseau de bus jouent un rôle significatif dans la recherche d'emploi. Les jeunes résidant dans les zones les moins desservies ont des chances d'insertion réduites, renforçant ainsi les inégalités territoriales. Ces constats soulignent l'importance d'intégrer les enjeux de mobilité dans les politiques d'insertion professionnelle et d'aménagement urbain, en particulier dans les villes en expansion comme Agadir. |
| Keywords: | Public transport, young graduates, professional integration, urban mobility, Mobilité urbaine, insertion professionnelle, jeunes diplômés, Transport public |
| Date: | 2026–03–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05557061 |
| By: | Bouchta Aloui (USMBA - Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, FSJES-Fès - Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales de Fès, ESSOR - Laboratoire Essor: droit, philosophie et société); Nada Kadri (FSJES-Fès - Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales de Fès, USMBA - Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah [Fès, Maroc], ESSOR - Laboratoire Essor: droit, philosophie et société) |
| Abstract: | The enterprise, as a structuring entity within the economic system, constitutes a fundamental driving force behind wealth creation and social dynamics. However, its existence is inherently subject to the dialectics of economic temporality: oscillating between expansion and recession, prosperity and decline, it remains vulnerable to financial cycles and structural market transformations. Entrepreneurial fragility, far from being an anomaly, is intrinsic to the very nature of economic activity, where risk constitutes an essential component of the entrepreneurial act. In this regard, corporate fallibility should not be perceived as an inevitable demise but rather as a reversible process, thereby prompting the Moroccan legislator to transcend the purely liquidative logic of corporate insolvency law and instead enshrine a paradigm based on safeguarding and restructuring.The enactment of Law No. 73-17 epitomizes this conceptual shift: the distressed enterprise is no longer viewed as an economic entity in decline, destined for dissolution, but rather as an institution capable of revitalization and reintegration into economic circuits through a series of anticipatory mechanisms. This reconfiguration of corporate insolvency law is structured around a procedural dichotomy encompassing two distinct yet complementary approaches: on the one hand, judicialization, which manifests through the safeguard procedure, affording judicial protection to distressed businesses, wherein judicial intervention serves as a tool for reorganization and restructuring; on the other hand, de-judicialization, materialized through amicable mechanisms such as conciliation and ad hoc mandates-both inspired by the French model-offering a more flexible approach based on party autonomy and the contractualization of restructuring efforts.However, these two paths, far from being antagonistic, converge towards a common objective: to establish a legal and economic rationality capable of preserving entrepreneurial continuity while maintaining a delicate balance between competing interests. Ultimately, through this normative framework, the Moroccan legislator transcends the traditional dichotomy between state interventionism and contractual freedom, opting instead for a legal architecture grounded in anticipation, flexibility, and the preservation of the various |
| Abstract: | L'entreprise, en tant qu'entité structurante du système économique, incarne une force motrice essentielle de la production de richesse et de la dynamique sociale. Son existence est toutefois marquée par une dialectique inhérente à la temporalité économique : entre expansion et récession, prospérité et déclin, elle demeure soumise aux vicissitudes des cycles financiers et aux mutations structurelles du marché. La vulnérabilité entrepreneuriale, loin d'être une anomalie, s'inscrit dans la nature même du phénomène économique, où la notion de risque est constitutive de l'acte d'entreprendre. C'est en cela que la faillibilité de l'entreprise, envisagée non comme une fatalité mais comme un processus réversible, a conduit le législateur marocain à transcender la logique purement liquidative du droit des entreprises en difficulté pour consacrer un paradigme fondé sur la sauvegarde et la restructuration. L'adoption de la loi n° 73-17 traduit cette mutation conceptuelle : il ne s'agit plus d'appréhender l'entreprise en difficulté comme un sujet en déshérence voué à la disparition, mais comme une entité à revitaliser, à réinscrire dans le circuit économique par une série de mécanismes anticipatoires. Cette reconfiguration du droit des entreprises en difficulté repose sur une dichotomie procédurale articulée autour de deux voies : d'une part, la judiciarisation, qui se manifeste à travers la procédure de sauvegarde, véritable sanctuarisation juridictionnelle de l'entreprise en crise, où l'intervention du juge devient un instrument d'ordonnancement et de restructuration ; d'autre part, la déjudiciarisation, qui s'illustre par des mécanismes négociés tels que la conciliation et le mandat spécial – inspirés du modèle français – et qui consacrent une approche plus souple, fondée sur l'autonomie de la volonté et la contractualisation de la restructuration. Toutefois, ces deux trajectoires, loin d'être antagoniques, s'inscrivent dans une même orientation : instaurer une rationalité économique et juridique apte à préserver le continuum entrepreneurial sans renier l'impératif d'équilibre entre les intérêts divergents qui s'y affrontent. En définitive, le législateur marocain, par cette ingénierie normative, opère un dépassement de la dialectique classique entre interventionnisme étatique et liberté contractuelle, pour édifier un cadre juridique fondé sur une logique d'anticipation, de flexibilité et de sauvegarde des intérêts en présence. Il en résulte une vision du droit des entreprises en difficulté qui, loin d'être une simple mécanique de sanction du défaillant, se mue en un véritable outil de régulation économique, garantissant la préservation du tissu entrepreneurial tout en veillant à l'intégrité du crédit et à la protection des créanciers. |
| Keywords: | prevention judicial authority president of the commercial court special representative conciliator conciliation safeguard companies in difficulty amicable agreement, amicable agreement, prevention, judicial authority, president of the commercial court, special representative, conciliator, conciliation, safeguard, companies in difficulty |
| Date: | 2025–07–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05501349 |
| By: | Amina Chandad (ENCGT - Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion de Tanger - UAE - Abdelmalek Essaadi University [Tétouan] = Université Abdelmalek Essaadi [Tétouan]); Mohamed Amine Benchekroun (ENSIT - Ecole des Nouvelles Sciences d’ingenierie, Le Laboratoire Systemes, Controle et Decision (LSCD), Tanger, Morocco.); Mostafa Abakouy (ENCGT - Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion de Tanger - UAE - Abdelmalek Essaadi University [Tétouan] = Université Abdelmalek Essaadi [Tétouan]) |
| Abstract: | This study examines gender disparities in entrepreneurship within Morocco's emerging economy, investigating how organisational culture, work-life balance, physical infrastructure, and career development affect women entrepreneurs' success. Building on recent research in women's workplace well-being in industrial contexts, this study extends theoretical frameworks to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through a multi- criteria decision-making approach. A fuzzy TOPSIS methodology was employed to prioritise determinants across three dimensions: environmental factors, entrepreneurial capabilities, and individual characteristics. Data from 180 women entrepreneurs across four sectors (manufacturing 40%, technology 30%, services 20%, trade 10%) in Morocco's three major economic regions (Casablanca-Settat, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra) were analysed using linguistic weights and triangular fuzzy numbers. Results reveal that career development and empowerment (closeness coefficient: 0.847), followed by organisational culture adaptation (0.723), are the most critical factors influencing women entrepreneurs' success. Gender-sensitive support systems and inclusive leadership significantly moderate entrepreneurial outcomes. This study integrates gendered organisations theory with entrepreneurship research, offering systematic prioritisation of gender-specific barriers in Morocco's entrepreneurial landscape, with actionable implications for policymakers and support institutions. This study employs a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach (Fuzzy TOPSIS), where the reported coefficients (e.g., 0.847; 0.723) represent ranking scores rather than statistical parameters. |
| Keywords: | women's well-being multi-criteria decision-making emerging economies entrepreneurial success gender equality. Classification JEL: O16 L26 J16 O15, women's well-being, multi-criteria decision-making, emerging economies, entrepreneurial success, gender equality. Classification JEL: O16, L26, J16, O15 |
| Date: | 2026–03–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05571544 |
| By: | Mohamed, Ahmed Ezzeldin (Toulouse School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies why governments in Muslim autocracies expand distributive policies and service delivery during Ramadan. Focusing on Egypt from 2014 to 2020, it argues that autocratic regimes distribute during Ramadan to contain political threats emerging from reputational pressure and mobilization risks. Using municipal-level data on government-reported economic benefits, it finds greater reported distribution in Ramadan, especially in places where threats are higher. |
| Date: | 2026–06–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:pfv89_v1 |
| By: | Eugène Berg |
| Abstract: | L’Organisation pour la coopération et le développement économiques (OCDE), forte de 38 membres, a longtemps fait figure d’Organisation regroupant les « démocraties industrielles développées ». Cette image n’est plus vraie, du fait de l’adhésion en son sein de pays, qualifiés jadis en développement, et que l’on considère souvent comme faisant partie du « Sud global ». C’est ainsi que l’ont intégrée : le Mexique (1994), qui lui a donné un Secrétaire général, Angel Gurria, la Corée du Sud (1996), le Chili (2010), la Colombie (2020) et le Costa Rica (2021). Le Maroc est le seul État dont le programme de coopération avec l’OCDE est passé au stade deux. Ceci lui a permis de prendre une avance sur beaucoup d’autres pays. En envisageant d’entamer la procédure d’adhésion, le Maroc serait face à une décision politique majeure. Laquelle décision pourrait mettre le Royaume en piste pour devenir membre de l’OCDE à l’horizon 2040, en accédant à la catégorie des pays à revenu intermédiaire de rang élevé. Dans cette perspective, le dépôt d’une candidature pourrait être envisagé entre la fin 2030 et le printemps 2031, à l’issue de la Coupe du monde de football 2030, afin de tirer parti de l’effet d’image et de l’attention internationale accrue autour du Royaume. L’intégration à l’OCDE s’inscrit, en effet, dans une procédure de transformation qui aide le pays candidat à s’aligner sur les normes et les meilleures pratiques de l’Organisation et, ainsi, à améliorer ses résultats économiques et sociaux. Le processus d’adhésion, constitué de huit étapes, s’étale sur plusieurs années au cours desquelles le pays candidat doit s’adapter aux critères et valeurs de l’Organisation qui, pour ce faire, lui apporte son soutien et son expertise. |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:rpaeco:rp06_26 |
| By: | Sonkurt Sen |
| Abstract: | Access to resources significantly influences academic success, particularly for students facing disadvantages. This study, focusing on females, examinestheeffectsofareform in Turkeythat provided free school textbooksto all students. Usingprimaryschoolen rollment eligibility cutoffs and implementing a Regression Discontinuity design, I find that providing free textbooks in primary school improves females’ likelihood of com pleting high school. In terms of labor market outcomes, I find that females are more likely to be in employment and less likely to be out of labor force. Additionally, males are also less likely to be out of labor force. There is no impact on earnings, nor on the socio-economic classification of the job. |
| Keywords: | Textbooks, Access to Resources, Returns to Education, Earnings, Employment |
| JEL: | I12 I21 I26 J13 |
| Date: | 2026–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2025_758 |
| By: | Mohamed, Ahmed Ezzeldin (Toulouse School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This article examines whether Ramadan is associated with expansionary fiscal policy in Egypt between 2006 and 2019. It finds that Ramadan is associated with modest increases in government expenditure and welfare spending, but this relationship depends on the level of political threats facing the regime. Spending is higher in Ramadan when preceded by more anti-regime collective action. |
| Date: | 2026–06–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:grzub_v1 |
| By: | Sinanoglu, Semuhi; von Schiller, Armin |
| Abstract: | International donors commit substantial resources to GovTech projects (the application of information and communication technologies to government functions). World Bank GovTech investments alone have exceeded $118 billion over the last three decades. Donor strategy documents consistently frame digital transformation not only as a vehicle for improved effectiveness but also for strengthening democracy. Autocrats are equally invested in these tools. Globally, at least 88 authoritarian regimes currently operate GovTech projects, and electoral autocracies receive the largest share of GovTech aid (48.6 per cent of commitments). Beyond well-known surveillance applications, autocracies deploy GovTech for service delivery, grievance redress and even citizen engagement. These platforms are deployed to project an image of responsiveness and legitimacy. Our experimental evidence from Turkey shows how efficiency-enhancing GovTech tools, when paired with sophisticated regime communication, can durably entrench autocratic rule. We designed a survey experiment focused on CIMER, Turkey's widely used citizen petition platform, to examine how citizens respond to the government propaganda surrounding it. The results show that the government's framing of CIMER as an effective tool that "gets things done" significantly increased trust in authoritarian institutions, even among regime opponents. The effect extended beyond attitudes to behaviour: Asked to allocate a hypothetical donation of money among state institutions, independent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or themselves, anti-government respondents exposed to messages on the platform were significantly more likely to give the money to state institutions. Our recommendations are as follows: Donors must take the second-order effects of GovTech initiatives seriously and develop mechanisms to carefully evaluate the risks of unintended consequences. In many cases, support for GovTech projects is overly optimistic regarding their effects on political openness. Adopting a more context-sensitive and realistic approach demands detailed political economy assessments before supporting GovTech projects and developing monitoring metrics that capture potential regime-legitimation effects. Donors need to build stronger safety guardrails into these projects. Depending on the political economy assessments, such measures could include the institutional involvement of international organisations or, if feasible, local NGOs (as conditionality) in platform oversight, mandatory independent audits and open data standards by design, among others. Finally, donors need to consider actively participating in public communication on these platforms, with visible donor branding, to counter government-controlled propaganda, claim credit for service delivery and strengthen trust in donor countries and organisations. |
| Keywords: | Digitalisation, GovTech, E-Government, digital authoritarism, propaganda, public administration, democracy, digital democracy, digital citizenship, digital bureacracy |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:idospb:341383 |
| By: | Tahar Kharchi (École Normale Supérieure de Sétif, LAGAM - Laboratoire de Géographie et d'Aménagement de Montpellier - UMPV - Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry) |
| Abstract: | This study examines the spatial and economic dimensions of parallel trade networks in Algeria's high plateau region, focusing on Setif and El Eulma as representative urban systems. Using spatial econometric methods and network analysis, we investigate how informal economic structures, particularly the "Doubaï markets, " have reshaped urban hierarchies and regional economic integration. Our analysis reveals that El Eulma has emerged as a critical node in transnational informal trade, connecting North African markets with Mediterranean and Asian supply chains. The parallel economy, estimated at 33-45% of regional GDP, operates through sophisticated networks that bypass formal institutions while generating significant employment and commercial activity. We employ a mixed-methods approach combining MIMIC (Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes) models, spatial autoregressive specifications, and qualitative network mapping to quantify these relationships. Results demonstrate strong spatial spillovers between formal and informal sectors, with infrastructure development and institutional quality serving as key determinants of informal economy size. The study contributes to urban economics literature by documenting how second-tier cities in resource-dependent economies develop alternative growth pathways through informal trade networks. Policy implications suggest that integration strategies focusing on reduced transaction costs and simplified regulation may prove more effective than enforcement-based approaches. |
| Keywords: | Urban economics, Transnational commerce, Regional development, Parallel trade, Spatial networks, Commerce parallèle, Développement régional, Échanges transnationaux, Économie urbaine, Réseaux spatiaux |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05626114 |